Uzbekistan and the IAEA Launch Joint Project to Combat Soil Salinization

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), together with the Soil Composition, Repository and Quality Analysis Center under the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, has launched a joint research project aimed at developing sustainable agricultural practices and reducing soil salinity, reports a correspondent of the Dunyo Information Agency.

As part of the initiative, a five-year field experiment will be conducted in Uzbekistan within the cotton–wheat–corn crop rotation system using polyhalite, an innovative natural mineral fertilizer rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.

It is expected that the use of modern technologies will help improve soil fertility, increase crop yields, and develop practical recommendations for farmers.

The implementation of the project will be an important step in strengthening scientific and practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and the IAEA, as well as making a significant contribution to addressing one of the country’s key environmental challenges — land salinization.

It should be noted that the expansion of cooperation in this field was discussed during the meeting between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Tashkent in December 2024.